November Ride Review
Model: Lapierre Spicy 316
Size: Med
Rider: 5’9” 155 lbs
Classification: Big Mountain
Retail Price: $3999
Let me start off by saying I’ve ridden plenty of other manufacturers 5.5”-7” “Big Mountain” bikes & found that they fall into one of two categories. Category 1 is light, climb well but feel flexy or too twitchy from steeper geometry or Category 2 is the burly ultra plush bike that is a real slug on the climbs & is way too slack in the geometry to climb anything short & steep. The Santa Cruz Nomad is one bike that manages to perform very well at both & after a solid 4 hour ride filled with steep rocky technical climbs & equally technical & fast descents I can say the Lapierre Spicy has what it takes to be the perfect all round big mountain machine just like the Nomad.
The Ride
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The Spicy 316 hit the scales at 31lbs which is very competitive for a true big mountain bike with solid parts spec. The first thing I noticed was it has a great climbing feel, no noticeable squat & power transfer felt instantaneous. My body position with the stock 70mm stem was comfortable & traction was plentiful. Even when pedaling out of the saddle I noticed none of that sluggish feel common in many other 6” travel bikes I’ve tested. When the trail turns to downhill I’m in my element & with years of DH race experience I demand a lot out of a big mountain bike & the Spicy was up to the task. The suspension felt stable & controlled even when I pointed the bike directly into the roughest rock strewn sections, the best way to describe it was “FUN”. It never felt twitchy & held its line despite hitting some travel maxing rocks & roots & the suspension seemed un-effected by braking which made the bike easy to control when braking toward a corner covered in roots.
The Bottom Line
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If your looking for a bike that can handle weekends at Rabbit hill, trips to Panorama & Fernie bike parks while being a fun XC capable ride for Edmonton then the Spicy 316 is the right bike for you. It will take the rough stuff of the mountain bike resorts & eat up the XC miles around town with out complaint.
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